Empowering The Independent Designer
Posted by: Ed @ 12:46 pm
YOU ARE THE FUTURE.
Let that sink in for a moment.
If you are an independent designer working with limited or no resources in the way of staff, the home fashion world will soon beat a path to your door, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say: your computer.
Why? Modern business dynamics call for a shift in how our industry communicates and delivers its message. Whether it’s “new media”, social networking or the ubiquitous iPhone, the old model of jumping into your car or worse: an airplane, is an inefficient use of time and certainly not “Green”. Our vision is to liberate you from cross-town, cross-state and cross-country trips to view or buy products you can easily buy from your home or office.
Years ago the furniture giants treated designers as a nuisance, relegating them to a “distributor” (read RETAIL) outlet. In High Point, the major exhibition center would not let you in until their “official” bell rang and even then, you were categorized as a segmented part of the show. “Real buyers” had stores. The tide has turned however. Today, you are the impetus for tectonic market shifts in High Point and elsewhere. Where you were once shunned, you are now courted-big time.
With that in mind, this coming week we launch the e-Commerce component of our website. For the first time, you will be able to buy from our collection of designer art and wall decor without a sales person traveling to you, without the need to go to a design center or travel to a major Market. This may not sound like much if you live in L.A., San Francisco, Chicago or New York, but if you live in Ventura, CA or Sacramento or Springfield, IL or Albany or Jacksonville, you know the hours you spend in traffic just getting to the products. If you live in Louisville or Littlerock? Good luck.
We look to provide a full spectrum of options and grant full access to the Interior Design professional. Convenience and value are what you will get. You will be able to browse our entire catalog, save images, show clients (with or without pricing), view your discount options, buy and pay for your art and receive it freight-free within 2 to 3 weeks of placing your order. You can purchase 1 picture or as many as you need. No minimum: simple, efficient, empowering. -EM
Find out more at www.soicher-marin.com.
Tags: Computer, e-Commerce, High Point, Home Fashions, Independent Designer, Interior Design
July 14th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Kudos to you, Soicher Marin, for recognizing the importance of the independent designer. We work in a highly fragmented industry, with most designers working for a firm of four or fewer. I wish that all vendors stayed steps ahead of the curve by instituting programs that help designers get back to the real reason they became designers. Thank you for valuing their time; more importantly, thank you for valuing the huge impact that each, independent designer has on the success of our industry.
-Alexandra Gibson (@gibsondm on Twitter), Gibson Design Management
July 15th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Well Said Ed,
Designers Creativity has challenged us to respond with custom options, increased service levels, and prompt and reliable delivery. We began hosting about thirty designers a month at Hickory Chair University for two days to help convey our capabilites but also to learn more of how we can help solve more of the furniture challenges they face today
The result has been rewarding we increased our design business significantly. We completed another record in 2008. 2009 is a challenge but we are excited to see the custom business expand as more designers embrace us as a trusted resource. It has alloed us to continue to produce eighty-five percent of our products at our Workroom in Hickory, NC. We too have recently upgraded our Website and added a blog to further improve our communication so we can further improve.
Your innovative approaches are inspiring.
Jay Reardon
President
Hickory Chair
ww.hickorychair.com
July 17th, 2009 at 4:23 am
Yay! For HC and still producing 85% back home. I am so happy to hear this news. That alone is very green. I have always said the HC showroom is my favorite in HP.